The Best Things To Do In Columbus This Weekend (September 18–20)

Fall Columbus weekends might be the best Columbus weekends of them all, and this weekend shows why.

Ohio State is back in the Shoe at noon Saturday, the Clippers play their last three home games of the year, and German Village throws its own Oktoberfest on the Meeting Haus Platz. The Columbus Symphony opens its 75th season at the Ohio Theatre, the Wexner Center opens its fall exhibitions with a free party, and Ohio Open Doors wraps its two-week run of historic tours on Sunday. Ray LaMontagne finally plays the Mershon show that was postponed last September. Here’s your weekend.

This Weekend At A Glance

Friday, September 18

🏛️ Ohio Open Doors, Final Weekend

Ohio Open Doors only happens every other year, and this is the last weekend of the 2026 run. Historic buildings across the state open for tours and programs that are not offered the rest of the time, and most of them cost nothing. CN’s guide to the central Ohio stops sorts them by day, with Saturday and Sunday the busiest. The program ends Sunday, September 20, and the next one is in 2028.

Location: Historic sites statewide
When: Through Sunday
Cost: Most events free
More info: Ohio History Connection

🎨 Arts In The Alley In Grove City

Grove City’s fall festival fills Town Center Park from Friday through Sunday with five art shows, food vendors, and live performances. The 37th annual community parade steps off Saturday morning at Southwest Boulevard and Broadway with an America 250 theme, and the Voice of Grove City vocal competition follows the parade. The fine art show hangs in City Hall’s council chambers and the quilt show fills St. John’s Evangelical Lutheran Church.

Location: Town Center Park, Grove City
When: Fri–Sun; parade Saturday
More info: Grove City Area Chamber of Commerce

⚾ The Clippers’ Last Three Home Games

The St. Paul Saints are in town for the final series of the Clippers’ season at Huntington Park. Friday at 7:05pm is Ohio State Night, with the team in Ohio State-inspired jerseys. Saturday at 7:05pm is the last night game of the year. Sunday at 1:05pm is Family Day, which starts with the Clippers 5K through the Arena District and ends on the field. A Sunday family pass covers two adults and four kids or seniors in the bleachers, lawn, or standing room for $24.

Location: Huntington Park, Arena District
When: Fri & Sat 7:05pm, Sun 1:05pm
Cost: Sunday family pass $24
More info: Columbus Clippers

🎭 Jagged Little Pill Previews At The Riffe

The Contemporary Theatre of Ohio opens its season with the Alanis Morissette musical in Studio One at the Riffe Center. Friday’s 8pm show is the second of two pay-what-you-want previews. After that it runs Fridays and Saturdays at 8pm and Sundays at 2pm through October 4, with a 2 hour 15 minute runtime and one intermission.

Location: Studio One, Riffe Center, 77 S. High St., Downtown
When: Fri & Sat 8pm, Sun 2pm
Cost: Friday preview pay-what-you-want
More info: The Contemporary Theatre of Ohio

🎻 Columbus Symphony Opens Its 75th Season

Rossen Milanov conducts the Columbus Symphony’s 75th anniversary opening night at the Ohio Theatre, Friday and Saturday at 7:30pm. Dobrinka Tabakova’s Orpheus’ Comet opens the program. Pianist Eva Gevorgyan then takes on Rachmaninoff’s Third Piano Concerto before Bartók’s Concerto for Orchestra closes the night. A free pre-concert talk starts at 6:30pm both nights.

Location: Ohio Theatre, 39 E. State St., Downtown
When: Fri & Sat, 7:30pm
More info: Columbus Symphony

🎤 Vox Traitors: A Murder Mystery

The Columbus Gay Men’s Chorus turns The Traitors into a whodunit concert in Studio Two at the Riffe Center, Friday and Saturday at 7:30pm. The audience helps work out who the traitor is while the chorus sings its way through the evidence.

Location: Studio Two, Riffe Center, 77 S. High St., Downtown
When: Fri & Sat, 7:30pm
More info: CAPA

🖼️ Wexner Center Fall Exhibitions Opening

The Wex opens its fall shows Friday from 4 to 8pm with a free celebration. The galleries are open and there are hors d’oeuvres and a cash bar in the lower lobby. New exhibitions include work by Sammy Baloji, Temitayo Ogunbiyi, and Léonard Pongo. Admission is free but you need a ticket, and parking is $6 for nonmembers.

Location: Wexner Center for the Arts, Ohio State campus
When: Friday, 4–8pm
Cost: Free with ticket; $6 parking for nonmembers
More info: Wexner Center for the Arts

🎵 Ray LaMontagne At Mershon

This is the make-up date for the Mershon Auditorium show that was postponed last September. Ray LaMontagne plays Friday at 7pm, and tickets from the original date are honored.

Location: Mershon Auditorium, Ohio State campus
When: Friday, 7pm
More info: Mershon Auditorium

🪕 Punch Brothers At The Southern

Chris Thile’s progressive bluegrass quintet plays the Southern Theatre Friday at 8pm.

Location: Southern Theatre, 21 E. Main St., Downtown
When: Friday, 8pm
More info: CAPA

🍿 Indie 90s: SLC Punk And Big Night

Gateway Film Center’s 22-film survey of 1990s independent cinema has two weekend screenings: SLC Punk (1998) on Friday and Big Night (1996), the Stanley Tucci restaurant movie, on Sunday. Showtimes are on the film pages.

Location: Gateway Film Center, 1550 N. High St., South Campus Gateway
When: Friday (SLC Punk), Sunday (Big Night)
More info: Gateway Film Center

Saturday, September 19

🏈 Ohio State vs. Kent State At Noon

Ohio State looks to rebound after the unsuccessful trip to Texas. This week’s game kicks off at noon Saturday at Ohio Stadium, on FOX.

Location: Ohio Stadium
When: Saturday, noon
More info: Ohio State Buckeyes

🍻 German Village Oktoberfest

The German Village Society turns the Meeting Haus Platz into a biergarten Saturday from 4 to 10pm. The women’s stein hoisting competition is at 6pm and the men’s at 7pm. Admission is ticketed through the society, and if it rains the party moves upstairs into the Meeting Haus festival hall.

Location: GVS Meeting Haus Platz, 588 S. Third St., German Village
When: Saturday, 4–10pm
More info: German Village Society

🎡 Delaware County Fair Opening Weekend

The Delaware County Fair opens Saturday and runs through Saturday, September 26. Gates are open 8am to 9pm and the rides run 11am to 10pm. General admission is $8, kids under 8 are free, and parking is included. The Little Brown Jug is Thursday, September 24, so this weekend is the quieter half of fair week.

Location: Delaware County Fairgrounds, 236 Pennsylvania Ave., Delaware
When: Sat–Sat, gates 8am–9pm
Cost: $8, kids under 8 free, free parking
More info: Delaware County Fair

Sunday, September 20

🏠 Short North Tour Of Homes & Gardens

The Short North Civic Association’s self-guided tour of Victorian Village and Italian Village homes runs Sunday from 10am to 4pm. Early-bird tickets are $20 online and $25 on the day at the registration table in Goodale Park. Free shuttles loop between the homes all day, and on-street parking is free on Sundays. A preview party at The Pizzuti is Saturday night for those who want the fuller version.

Location: Check in at Goodale Park, Victorian Village
When: Sunday, 10am–4pm
Cost: $20 advance, $25 day of
More info: Short North Civic Association

🌊 Scioto Sweep River Cleanup

Green Columbus and Keep Columbus Beautiful run the annual Scioto Sweep Sunday from 10am to noon, with three groups starting at Scioto Audubon Metro Park. Gloves, bags, and litter grabbers are provided, along with donuts and coffee at registration. Wear closed-toe shoes and sign up online first.

Location: Scioto Audubon Metro Park, Brewery District
When: Sunday, 10am–noon
Cost: Free, registration required
More info: Green Columbus

Sunday is also the last day of Ohio Open Doors and Arts in the Alley, Family Day at Huntington Park, the 2pm Jagged Little Pill matinee, and Big Night at the Gateway.

For everything after this weekend, the September guide has you covered.

Have fun, Columbus!